Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-01-18
6be caruoster 1melltge,rfss
LANoAsTKR. JANUARY 10, 1857.
The GOyernors.

Governor Pattison to-day goes out and
Governor Beaver goes In. The two men.
- they are understood, are wholly unlike, |
and so will be their administrations. Gov |
ernor Pattison has been noted for his self |
will Governor Beaver will be known for
his yielding to the will of others. II Gov
ernor Pattison had been an older man when |
he became governor lie would have been a |
Trre successful officer. He lacked greatly |
~ wisdom which years bring, and the |
recognition which comes with them of the
fact that there are other men In the world
beside oneself, whom 1t Is needful to be In
harmony with, if things are to be accom-
plished. Governor PattisOn became
governor by reason OF the repute for
sturdy integrity, independence and ex-
ecutive ability which he achieved in the
controller 'sofiice Of Philadelphia; the duties
OF which bore no relation to those Of gov
ernor and furnished no school for the COM
ing place. Democratic governor with a
legislature Republican in both branches.
had no easy ground 10 plough. He needed
qualities which Governor pattison did not
have, and which he could hardly have been
expected TO have at his age. He would
have been very remarkable young man
Indeed If be had fallen naturally into the
conduct that his position called for. But
there Is no doubt that the game was In his
hands to win if he had known how. It was
possible for him either to lead the Iegis'n a.
fure or to show the people that it should
have followed him.
He had his party, which bad Just shown
that 1t had majority Of the voters Of the
state. That party was TO be preserved IN
Its strength and to be cultivated to greater
strength. The clements were all ready.
Nothing better could have been wished in
the situation. a Democratic governor,
with his hand upon Republican legisla.
ture, ought to have either secured the leg
islation that be demanded or have caused
the condemnation of the legislature that
refused it.
Governor Pattison set bravely to work.
and fought the fight out on the liue upon
which he started, through cold winters pnd
bot summers, and lost the battlo straight
along. There was no lack of courage or
persistence. He manifested those virtues
In profnsion. If he had been Fighting with
muskets be might have been successful. II
he had been leading an army bound to him
IN the bondsot military discipline, be might
! have won.
But That Is not the kind Of army the
Democratic army is. It takes genius 10
lead it. 1t wauders In the wilderness be.
canse that genius is not. 1t has not for
many years appeared in Pennsylvania, with
opportunity TO aid its efforts. Governor
Pattson had the opportunity but lack ed
the genius. He was doubtless too
deeply impressed with the belief that be
had been the party's Moses aud he was
too Intent upon laying down the law 10 its
people. He wholly failed to bind the party
to him. He was too arbitrary with its
leaders and too uncompromising and
unfacile In all his works. He lacked
the suavity of method needed essentially in
the execution of political purposes; or
perhaps, 1t was not suavity so much as the
hard sense that contrives to make the
mailed hand feel soft. You may call #.
generally, tact; but, whatever Its name, It
is something that those who seek to lead
men in politics must have as substitute
Tor the force of military discipline in an
amy of soldiers.
Governor Pattison goes out of Office with
the high respect of the people, who know
that he has been thoroughly honest and In
dependent, and that he has evidently de.
sired to introduce reforms In the state.
though he has been unable to oyerconethe
obstacles in his ways. He has done much.
However, to give to himself and
to the party which lie represen.
ted, standing before the world as the
advocates of good principles OF govern.
ment, and he has laid strong foundation
for its future success. Governor Pattison
has been the earnest friend of the people as
governor and has not bowed his knee to
the enticements of the powerful In the
land. His administration is likely to shine
out In bold and bright contrast, in this. to
that of Geneaal Beaver, who was created
To- be tool and will faithfully fulfill his
destiny.